Mail delivery indicator

ABSTRACT

A mail delivery indicator for a mailbox with a door with a lower corner and a side, facing towards and/or away from a user&#39;s home or establishment. The mail delivery indicator has a signal holder bracket that is attached to the lower corner of the mailbox, an eyelet that is attached on the side of the mailbox adjacent to the lower corner of the mailbox where the signal holder bracket is attached, a signal ball that indicates when the mailbox door is opened and a tether line with a proximal end and a distal end, connecting the proximal end with the signal ball. There is also a second embodiment for mailboxes that can be viewed from the back as well.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/511,656, filed Oct. 17, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus that indicateswhen mail has been delivered to a mailbox. More particularly, theapparatus can be seen from both the back and the front of the mailboxwith which the apparatus is used.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mailbox indicators that indicate when mail has been deposited in amailbox are well known in the related art. These mail indicators canrange in complexity from being very simple to those that requirecomplicated electronics. Some of the simpler mail indicators are alsoreflected in the related art.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0000108 written byPerry and published on Apr. 5, 2001, outlines the use of a mail deliverysignal kit, which includes a magnet, which can be mounted on the side orface of a mailbox door. There is also a tethering device which isanchored to a portion of the mailbox, a stopper constructed of ametallic material which will connect to the magnet and which can beattached to one end of the tether and a visual indicator device whichcan be retained on the tethering device, which is adapted to be stoppedby the stopper attached to the tethering device.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 260,319 issued to Kuntz, Jr. on Aug. 18, 1981,outlines the use of an ornamental design for a mailbox signal.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 356,428 issued to Piatkowski et al. on Mar. 14, 1995,outlines the use of an ornamental design for a mailbox signal.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 457,706 issued to Teichelman on May 21, 2002,outlines the ornamental design for a device for attachment to a mailboxfor use in indicating the delivery of mail.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,787 issued to Lawson on Sep. 9, 1952, outlines theuse of a dual signaling device to assist in mail collection anddelivering activities, which are of great benefit to the owner of amailbox in assuring himself that the mail carrier has been to themailbox to either pick up mail or to deliver incoming mail, as the casemay be.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,075 issued to Van Duzer on Apr. 26, 1955, outlinesthe use of a novel signal member for a mailbox which will automaticallymove to a clear signaling position visible to the eye both from thefront and rear of the mailbox upon the opening of the mailbox door bythe mail carrier when he or she deposits mail therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,167 issued to Bailes et al. on Dec. 3, 1957,outlines the use of a rural mailbox involving a door-actuated signal forindicating a deposit of mail in the mailbox by a mailman.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,966 issued to Lay on Feb. 11, 1969, outlines the useof a trough-like member that is structurally integral with the door of arural mailbox which has its mouth directed upwardly when the door isclosed to normally retain an elongated, cylindrical body secured to themailbox by an elongated transversely flexible member. When the mailboxdoor is opened by a mail carrier, the support member mouth will betilted downward to allow the body to gravitate from the support and todangle from the transversely flexible member to provide visualindication that the mailbox door has been opened.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,070 issued to Schuh on Dec. 15, 1970, outlines theuse of a signal attachment for a mailbox having a hinged door with asignal plate attached to one end of a chain, the other end of which isattached to an external mounting of the mailbox. The signal plate isadapted to be manually set in an inconspicuous position and frictionallyheld between the flange of the door and a sidewall portion of themailbox.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,056 issued to Sherrill on Feb. 6, 1979, outlines theuse of a signal device in the form of a coil type spring with anelongated end thereon for fitting under the lip of the door of a ruraltype mailbox when the door is in a closed position. Intermediate to theend of the elongated portion is an enlarged portion preferably in theform of a ball to increase the visibility of the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,953 issued to Poloha on Apr. 18, 1989, outlines theuse of a mailbox signaling apparatus for use on both rural type andresidential type mailboxes. The apparatus includes a suspension unithaving a support arm and at least one elongated slot and a signal unitincluding a signal member attached to the suspension unit, which isprovided with an attachment ring that is dimensioned to be selectivelyreceived over the support arm and within the slot.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,295 issued to Steinfeldt on Feb. 8, 1994, outlinesthe use of a mailbox delivery signal device with a signal ball ofaerodynamic configuration tethered to a support bracket mounted to thedoor of the mailbox. The support bracket includes a planar supportmember, which extends perpendicularly to the mailbox door and includes acircular hole formed therethrough having a diameter smaller than thediameter of the signal ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,404 issued to Jefferson et al. on Apr. 25, 2000,outlines the use of an automatic signaling device to be used with astandard rural mailbox to indicate that the door has been opened when amail carrier puts mail in the mailbox. The primary components of thedevice have a signal flag, including a helical spring and a signal platefor attaching to the top end of the spring, a mounting bracket formounting the helical spring to the door of the mailbox and a retainingbracket attached to the mailbox top.

Great Britain Patent Application No. 2,040,678 granted to Sherrill onSep. 3, 1980, outlines the use of a signal device in the form of a coiltype spring with an elongated end thereon for fitting under the lip ofthe door of a rural type mailbox when the door is in the closedposition. Intermediate to the end of the elongated portion is anenlarged portion preferably in the form of a ball to increase thevisibility of the device. The end of the coil spring opposite theelongated portion has a provision for securing the same to the side ofthe standard rural type mailbox.

Although each of these patents and patent applications outline the useof novel and useful devices, what is really needed is a mailbox deliveryindicator that can be seen from the front and the back of a mailbox.Such a mailbox delivery indicator would address such a need that is inthe marketplace, particularly with distant rural mailboxes.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thusa mail delivery indicator solving the aforementioned problems isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a mail delivery indicator for a mailbox with a doorwith a lower corner and a side that is facing towards a user's home orestablishment. The mail delivery indicator has a signal holder bracketthat is attached to the lower corner of the mailbox, an eyelet that isattached on the side of the mailbox adjacent to the lower corner of themailbox where the signal holder bracket is attached, a signal ball thatindicates when the mailbox door is opened and a tether line with aproximal end and a distal end, connecting the distal end with the signalball. There is also a second embodiment for mailboxes that can be viewedfrom the back as well.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to indicate whenmail has been delivered to a mailbox that is positioned in view of ahome or establishment.

It is another object of the invention to indicate when mail has beendelivered to a mailbox positioned away from the view of a home or anestablishment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an inexpensive andsimple way to indicate when mail has been delivered to a mailbox.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an easilyinstallable mailbox indicator.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a mail deliveryindicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the first embodiment of the maildelivery indicator for a mailbox positioned in view of a home orestablishment.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the second embodiment of the maildelivery indicator for a mailbox positioned away from a home or anestablishment.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the maildelivery indicator for a mailbox indicator positioned in front of orbehind a mailbox.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention in a first embodiment is a mail delivery indicator 10 fora mailbox MB with a door with a lower corner and a side, that is facingtowards a user's home or establishment, as is depicted in FIG. 1.

The first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10 comprises asignal holder bracket 20 that is attached to the lower corner of themailbox MB, an eyelet 30 that is attached on the side of the mailbox MBadjacent to the lower corner of the mailbox MB where the signal holderbracket 20 is attached and a signal ball 40 that indicates when themailbox MB door is opened. The first embodiment of the mail deliveryindicator 10 further comprises a tether line 50 with a proximal end 52and a distal end 54, connecting the proximal end 52 with the signal ball40 and a stopper 60 that is threaded with the distal end 54 of thetether line 50 through the eyelet 30 to hold the distal end 54 of thetether line 50 at the eyelet 30, the signal ball 40 will fall out of thesignal holder bracket 20 when the mailbox MB door is opened and hangdown from the tether line 50, thereby indicating to the user that themailbox MB door has been opened.

The first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10 also utilizesnuts and bolts (not shown) to attach the signal holder bracket 20 to thelower corner of the mailbox MB that is most visible to be seen from auser's home or establishment. When the signal ball 40 of the firstembodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10 is resting in the signalholder bracket 20, the first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator10 indicates that the mailbox MB door has not been opened. The firstembodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10 is designed for use for amailbox MB with a door positioned in view from a user's home orestablishment.

There is also a second embodiment which is mail delivery indicator 70,intended to be used for a mailbox MB door being positioned away from auser's home or establishment. The second embodiment of the mail deliveryindicator 70 has a second signal ball 80 that is located to the rear ofthe user's mailbox MB to be more visible from the front and back of theuser's mailbox MB. This is an improvement from the first embodiment ofthe mailbox delivery indicator 10, which can only be seen from the frontof the mailbox MB.

The second embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 70 is used incombination with a mailbox MB with a door and a side that is facing awayfrom a user's home or establishment. The second embodiment of themailbox delivery indicator 70 comprises a signal holder bracket 20 thatis attached to the lower corner of the mailbox MB and a tether line 50with a proximal end 52 and a distal end 54. The second embodiment of themail delivery indicator 70 further comprises a first signal ball 40 thatis attached to the proximal end 52 of the tether line 50 and a secondsignal ball 80 that is attached to the distal end 54 of the tether line50, the first signal ball 40 disposed in the signal holder bracket 20thereby indicating to the user that the mailbox MB door has remainedclosed.

The second embodiment of the mailbox delivery indicator 70 also has atube 90 with a front end 92 and a back end 94 that is threaded with thetether line 50 and is attached to the side of the mailbox MB, the tetherline 50 being movable from within the tube 90 from the gravitationalforces exerted from the first signal ball 40 and the second signal ball80. There is also a first stopper 100 provided with the first signalball 40 and a second stopper 110 provided with the second signal ball 80to cushion any counter gravitational force on the front end 92 and theback end 94 of the tube 90 that might be exerted by the first signalball 40 and the second signal ball 80.

The second embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 70 can indicatewhen the mailbox MB door is opened and when the first signal ball 40falls out of the signal holder bracket 20 and exerts a countergravitational force raising the second signal ball 80 to the back end 94of the tube 90 and indicating that the mailbox MB door has been opened.The first signal ball 40 must be heavier than the second signal ball 80in order for the second embodiment of the mailbox delivery indicator 70to work properly.

The third embodiment of the mailbox delivery indicator 120 involves theuse of a different signal holder bracket 130 than the signal holderbracket 20 used in the first embodiment 10 and the second embodiment 70.This is illustrated in FIG. 4. The signal holder bracket 130 used withthe third embodiment of the mailbox delivery indicator 120 is attachedto the lower portion of the mailbox MB door and extends horizontallypast either side of the mailbox MB, while holding the signal ball 40 andmaking the signal ball 40 visible from either the front of the mailboxMB or the back of the mailbox MB. Like the first embodiment 10 and thesecond embodiment 70, a signal guard 140 can be provided on the ringportion of the signal holder bracket 132 that holds the signal ball 40.The signal guard 140 can be easily clipped onto and taken off of thering portion of the signal holder bracket 132 that holds the signal ball40 with two fitted clips 142 provided on the signal guard 140. Thesignal guard 140 can also be used with a signal holder bracket 20 fromthe first embodiment 10 or the second embodiment 70 to prevent somethingfrom inadvertently knocking off the signal ball 40 while the mailbox MBdoor is closed.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a leveling slot 150 on the bolt 152 of thesignal holder bracket 130 which can help level and adjust the signalholder bracket 130 in the event that the signal holder bracket 130 isnot perfectly horizontally level. A similar leveling slot can also beprovided for bolts of the signal holder bracket 20 for the firstembodiment 10 and the second embodiment 70 of the invention as well.

Use of the first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10, thesecond embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 70 and the thirdembodiment of the mail delivery indicator 120 are straightforward. Oncethe mailbox MB has been opened and mail is deposited inside the mailboxMB, the first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10 and the thirdembodiment of the mail delivery indicator 120 can be easily reset bysimply returning the signal ball 40 back onto the ring portion of thesignal holder bracket 132. Similarly, indicator 70 is reset easily byreturning the first signal ball 40 onto the signal holder bracket 20.

The first embodiment of the mail delivery indicator 10, the secondembodiment of the mail delivery indicator 70, the third embodiment ofthe mail delivery indicator 120 and their respective parts andcomponents, come in separate kits (not shown) with instructions on howto install any embodiment. All kits can be used on conventionalmailboxes MB, whether the mailbox MB is viewed from the front or theback of a user's home or establishment. All kits require the use ofbasic hand tools to install any embodiment of the invention.

It must be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A mail delivery indicator for a mailbox with a door with a lowercorner and a side, comprising: a signal holder bracket attached to alower corner of the mailbox; an eyelet attached on the side of themailbox adjacent the lower corner of the mailbox where the signal holderbracket is attached; a signal ball to indicate when the mailbox door isopened, placed on the signal holder bracket; a tether line with aproximal end and a distal end, said distal end connected to the signalball; and a stopper threaded with the proximal end of the tether linethrough the eyelet to hold the proximal end of the tether line at theeyelet, whereby said signal ball will fall out of the signal holderbracket when the mailbox door is opened, and will hang down from thetether line, thereby indicating to the user that the mailbox door hasbeen opened.
 2. The mail delivery indicator according to claim 1,further comprising fasteners for attaching the signal holder bracket tothe lower corner of the mailbox.
 3. The mail delivery indicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the signal ball is dimensioned andconfigured to rest in the signal holder bracket indicating that themailbox door has not been opened.
 4. The mail delivery indicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein a slotted mounting hole is provided on thesignal holder bracket.
 5. A mail delivery hole indicator for a mailboxwith a door and a side, comprising: a signal holder bracket attached toa lower corner of the mailbox; a tether line with a front end and a backend; a first signal ball attached to the front end of the tether line,and a second signal ball attached to the back end of the tether line,said first signal ball disposed in the signal holder bracket therebyindicating to the user that the mailbox door has remained closed; a tubewith a front end and a back end that is threaded with the tether lineand is attached to the side of the mailbox, said tether line beingmovable from within the tube from the gravitational forces exerted fromthe first signal ball and the second signal ball; and a first stopperprovided with the first signal ball and a second stopper provided withthe second signal ball to cushion any counter gravitational force on thefront end and the back end of the tube that might be exerted by thefirst signal ball and the second signal ball.
 6. The mail deliveryindicator according to claim 5, wherein the mailbox door is opened andthe first signal ball falls out of the signal holder bracket and exertsa counter gravitational force raising the second signal ball to the backend of the tube and indicating that the mailbox door has been opened. 7.The mail delivery indicator according to claim 5, whereby the firstsignal ball is heavier than the second signal ball.
 8. The mail deliveryindicator according to claim 5, wherein a slotted mounting hole isprovided on the signal holder bracket.
 9. A mail delivery indicator fora mailbox with a door with a lower portion and two sides, that is eitherfacing towards a user's home or establishment or facing away from auser's home or establishment, comprising: a signal holder bracket thatis attached to the lower portion of the mailbox door and extends pasteither side of the mailbox; an eyelet that is attached on the signalholder bracket; a signal ball that indicates when the mailbox door isopened and closed; a tether line with a proximal end and a distal end,connecting the distal end with the signal ball; and a stopper that isthreaded with the proximal end of the tether line through the eyelet tohold the proximal end of the tether line at the eyelet, said signal ballwill fall out of the signal holder bracket when the mailbox door isopened and hang down from the tether line, thereby indicating to theuser that the mailbox door has been opened.
 10. The mail deliveryindicator according to claim 9, wherein nuts and bolts are used toattach the signal holder bracket to the lower portion of the door of themailbox.
 11. The mail delivery indicator according to claim 9, whereinthe signal ball is resting in the signal holder bracket indicating thatthe mailbox door has not been opened.
 12. The mail delivery indicatoraccording to claim 9, wherein a slotted mounting hole is provided on thesignal holder bracket.